CHAPTER 10

After Derek left the room, shutting the door behind him, I found myself lost in thought. The kiss had left me dazed, a whirlwind of emotions coursing through me. 

I was torn between the pain of his rejection and the undeniable pull of our bond. Before I could fully process my feelings, there was a knock at the door, and the Alpha—Derek’s father—walked in.

The Alpha’s presence was commanding yet kind, his gaze soft as he looked at me . "Ava," he started, his deep voice laced with regret. "I owe you an apology.”

I blinked in surprise. "An apology, Alpha?"

He nodded, stepping further into the room. "I’ve failed you, and for that, I’m deeply sorry. I didn’t realize the extent of what you’ve been through—how much you’ve endured in silence, hiding for years. 

As Alpha, my role is to protect every member of this pack, and I failed to do that for you.”

I looked down, my voice barely above a whisper. "You have a lot on your shoulders, Alpha. You’re not just the leader of the pack—you’re a father, too. I understand.”

He gave me a small, appreciative smile. "Even so, I want to make it right. You’ve been hiding for far too long, Ava, and that needs to change. 

You deserve to live your life, not cower in the shadows. That’s why I’m giving you a role here in the pack house. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be working as a cleaner. It will get you out of your shell and help you build your confidence.”

My eyes widened. "A cleaner?"

"It’s a start," he said gently. "It will give you purpose, and it will force you to interact with others. I’ll also be sending a letter to your parents, ensuring they don’t stop you from coming here. You’ll have my protection.”

Tears welled in my eyes as I nodded. "Thank you, Alpha. Truly."

When I returned home that evening, I barely made it through the door before my mother’s voice cut through the air like a blade.

"So, the disgrace has returned," my mother sneered, arms crossed. "What did you do this time, Ava? Cause another scene in the market? 

Do you know how humiliating it is to hear that Derek himself had to pick you up? How dare you continue to shame this family!”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. 

I didn’t bother explaining what had happened. It wouldn’t matter—my mother never listened. "I’ve been given a job at the pack house," I said instead, keeping my voice steady.

 Her eyes flared with anger. "A job? You? I’ve been trying to get a position there for years, and now you get one handed to you on a silver platter? Absolutely not. You’re not going.”

Jealousy radiated off her , her words dripping with spite. My jaw tightened, but before I could respond, there was a knock at the door.

The room fell silent as the Alpha himself stepped inside, his presence instantly commanding respect. 

“I need to speak plainly,” the Alpha began, his voice firm but calm. “I’ve come to address the treatment of your daughter. 

For years, Ava has lived in the shadows, enduring humiliation and rejection within her own home. I will not tolerate such behavior any longer.”

She stiffened. “With all due respect, Alpha, Ava has brought shame to this family. She’s different—”

“Enough!” The Alpha’s voice cut through the air like a whip. “Different? She was born prematurely and with a twisted spine. 

None of that was her fault. And her wolf’s inability to heal her—that is not something she chose. Yet you treated her as if she were an outcast in her own family.”

She tried to speak, but the Alpha raised a hand to silence her. “You, as her mother, should have been her strongest support, her safe haven. Instead, you allowed her to grow up feeling unwanted and unloved. That is unacceptable.”

Dad, who was the quiet one, shifted uncomfortably. “We only wanted what was best—”

“What was best?” His golden eyes glinted dangerously. “You thought ignoring your daughter’s pain and ostracizing her was best? 

I expected better from you both, especially you, he pointed at mum . A mother’s role is to protect and nurture, not to judge and belittle.”

I had been standing near the staircase, watching the confrontation with wide eyes. Tears blurred my vision as I heard the Alpha’s words. 

It was the first time anyone had stood up for me so fiercely, and the weight of years of neglect and rejection pressed down on my chest.

I couldn’t bear to hear more. Without a word, I turned and rushed upstairs, the tears spilling over as I collapsed onto my bed.

"Ava will be working at the pack house starting tomorrow," the Alpha said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "She is not to be stopped from coming or going. I expect your full cooperation.”

Mum stammered, trying to form a response, but the Alpha raised a hand to silence her. "This is not up for discussion. Ava has my protection, and if I hear otherwise, there will be consequences."

That night, my sleep was restless. The recurring dream came again, vivid and overwhelming. I was standing in a forest, the moonlight filtering through the dense canopy above. 

In front of me stood two massive shadowy creatures, looking like they were about to pounce on me when the figure with that same brilliant light came again and screamed on top of its voice 

 “The time is now.”

I gasped, my eyes snapping open. I sat up in bed, my heart racing. The dream had been recurring for weeks, but this was the first time I heard the words “The time is now.”What did it mean?

I buried my face in my hands, exhaustion and confusion weighing me down. The phrase repeated in my mind like a haunting melody.

As morning light filtered through my window, I 

 felt a heaviness in my chest. The Alpha’s words the night before lingered, leaving me torn between gratitude and doubt. 

Would the Alpha ever accept me as Derek’s mate? 

And then there was the dream. What was the figure in the brilliant light trying to tell me? Why did it feel so urgent? I shook my head, trying to dispel the lingering fog of the dream, but the phrase wouldn’t leave my mind.

“The time is now.”